Shawn McKinney MD
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Dr. Shawn McKinney was born in New Orleans and after graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Chemistry-Premedicine from Xavier University in Louisiana, she attended medical school at Morehouse School of Medicine, where she also completed her surgical training. It was there that she realized her love for treating women with breast disease. In 2003, she completed a surgical breast fellowship at Baylor University in Dallas, Texas. She worked for 10 years as an Assistant Professor for Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia, where she established and accredited the Cancer Center's breast program, a program which continues to thrive today.
She then joined the Breast Center at University Medical Center in Jackson, MS, and for 7 years introduced advanced surgical techniques and oncoplastic surgery to the department while obtaining her Master’s in Public Health in Health Policy and Administration at the University of Southern Mississippi. Currently, as a Professor of Clinical Surgery for LSUHSC, in addition to surgery she counsels high risk patients and has a special interest in young women with breast cancer. She also participates in research targeted toward disparities in cancer diagnosis and treatment. She and her husband, Gerald, a laparoscopic surgeon, have three children—Simone, Sinclair, and Josiah.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- That a surgeon’s precision can transform paramedical tattoo artistry into restorative, confidence-building results for survivors.
- How Dr. McKinney built a breast program that earned accreditation and continues to thrive today.
- Why survivors of cancer, trauma, and self-harm often need restoration beyond the initial recovery process.
- That a rare Black woman surgeon can pioneer advanced oncoplastic surgical techniques across multiple institutions.
- How she combines a surgeon’s perspective with artistry to reconnect patients with their bodies after treatment.
- Why trust and genuine patient connection are foundational to her success as both surgeon and artist.
- That a multifaceted medical career can include surgery, public health, teaching, and creative entrepreneurship.
- How she earned a Master’s in Public Health in Health Policy while introducing advanced surgical techniques.
- Why representation matters for Black women who pursue careers in surgery and paramedical artistry.
- That recovery is an ongoing process, and restoration can be addressed at any stage of healing.
about the show
America’s Best Doctors is a business documentary series featuring medical professionals, healthcare leaders, innovators, and physicians who are making a meaningful impact in the lives of their patients and communities.
Each episode takes viewers beyond the white coat to explore the real story behind the doctor. Guests share the challenges, sacrifices, breakthroughs, and defining moments that shaped their careers and helped them become trusted leaders in medicine.
The series highlights doctors who have built their reputation through skill, compassion, innovation, leadership, and a commitment to improving lives. From patient care and medical breakthroughs to practice growth and community impact, America’s Best Doctors shows what it takes to lead in one of the most demanding fields in the world.
Through powerful interviews and documentary-style storytelling, the series gives audiences a closer look at the people, purpose, and humanity behind modern medicine.
For featured guests, America’s Best Doctors provides a platform to share their journey, build authority, and help viewers understand the passion and dedication behind their work.
